The Best School Supplies for Back to School

It’s back to school time baby! That means summer is coming to a close (insert sad emoji here), but it also means that it’s time to get your school shopping on!

This post is all about our favorite school supplies to make your year successful. We have tried a variety of different brands in most categories. A lot of the things listed below are items that lasted all year and are still in good condition today!

Back to School shopping feels like Christmas to me. Even though I’m not the one getting new supplies, I just love searching for the perfect backpack and lunch box combination. Or comparing marker packs and an accompanying supply box. I know, I’m a nerd. But, I am completely ok with that! School supply shopping energizes me, so let’s get to it!

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Back to School Supply Categories:

The Basics
Paper Things
The Fun Stuff
Extras

The Basics

Now, this category isn’t particularly exciting, but it is necessary. Pencils, crayons, and markers all fall into the category. If you are being asked to purchase school supplies, chances are you will be purchasing quite a few items from this list!

Pencils – This is the pencil brand that we have turned to for years. It is actually the brand that our school recommends as well. Bonus that they have a pre-sharpened version!
Crayons – We have sooooo many crayons in my house! And when they break, I just melt them down into fun shapes (like this!). Here are our tried-and-true favorites. I will never go to another brand!
Markers – Not all teachers will ask for markers, but when they do, this is what we get!
Colored Penci ls – My oldest needed colored pencils for the first time, last year. This pack lasted him all year (and is still going strong this summer!)
Glue Sticks – We go through a lot of glue sticks in this house. This is the brand that we buy for both school and home!
Glue Bottles – For all of those messy projects!
Scissors – Depending on your child’s age, they may need blunt end or pointed end scissors. No matter which you need, this is the brand that I always go with!
Large Erasers – There is a lot of variety in the eraser department, but this is the best that we have tried!
Highlighters – This if the first time one of my kiddos had needed highlighters for school, but we use these at home all the time!
Permanent markers – In my opinion, there is really only one permanent marker brand that you can rely on. Here is what we use!

Paper Things

Again, not a very exciting category, but necessary nonetheless! In the Paper Things category, I’m including things that contain or organize paper such as folders and binders.

Loose Leaf Paper – Paper isn’t as important to me, but this is the brand that we have enjoyed.
Spiral Notebooks – There are so many different notebook types out there. While I love to let my kiddos choose a character themed notebook for personal use, these notebooks are always our go to for school!
Folders – I bought these folders for my son to use last school year, and I am still using them for various papers this summer. They are in perfect condition!
Binders – We haven’t needed binders yet, but this is what we use to organize home things.
Planner – I love the size of this planner and the fact that it has so much room to input important dates, projects, homework, etc.

The Fun Stuff

Now, let’s get to the good stuff! This is what I love about Back-to-School shopping. All of the fun extras.

Backpack – We have tried quiet a few backpack brands in the past, and this one is our favorite. We also really like this brand. I used to let my kiddos pick their backpacks based on the character they wanted (Star Wars was a popular theme). I quickly learned that the character backpacks were too small and fell apart quickly. While I still let my kids choose their design, I give them these 2 brands to choose from. We will be using one backpack from each brand for the second year in a row this fall!
Lunch Box – When it comes to lunch boxes, I’ve tried quite a variety. The most important thing that I have found (for us) is that it is a lunch box that stands up with a mesh drink pocket on the outside in an upright position. We have had quite a few milk spills when the button accidentally gets pressed while still in the backpack. It is not pretty to clean up (especially when there is an iPad involved!). Therefore, I just need an upright milk container! That being said, we love this brand as well.
Bento Case – I love, love, love this bento container! We actually have 3 of them that we have had for at least 5 years now. They still work great and are leak-free! The only problem is that my kids’ appetites have outgrown the size of the container. Luckily, they make a larger box as well! We upgraded to these last year and have really enjoyed them! They also have a version with a build in ice pack; ingenious!
Milk Cup – 3 of my kiddos do not drink cow’s milk due to allergies when they were younger. Therefore, I have to send their milk to school if I want them to have any for lunch. These cups have worked great and are leak-free (as long as the button doesn’t get pressed while it is inside the backpack!). There are also a ton of design options!
Water Bottle – We have had these water bottles for years and I just love them! I actually have a larger size for myself too! Ice stays for hours!
Snack Containers – If you couldn’t tell by now, I love containers! These containers are not only fabulous for school, but they are perfect for beach visits, zoo trips, car rides, appointments, and so much more! With 3 separate compartments, there are so many options! And, they have some great character designs to choose from!
Thermos – These are perfect for sending soup, mac n’ cheese, pasta, and even oatmeal! My kids love them and can coordinate with their milk cups!

Extras

There are always a few things that don’t really fit into any category. This is a collection of those things.

Supply Box – I love this supply box. We have used them for years, and they last!
Pencil Sharpener – Chances are the teacher has a pencil sharpener. However, I always like to send a small one inside the supply box so my kiddo can sharpen as needed.
Dry Erase Markers – As a teacher, I always preferred the skinnier dry erase markers. They make it easier for littles to write with.
Class Snacks – Always a crowd pleaser, these will help make snack time decisions quick and easy!

Back to School!

Enjoy this Back to School season with some fun new supplies. It is sure to get your kids excited about getting back to the classroom!

Thank you so much for reading, sweet friends. As always, you can find more on Pinterest and see what we are up to on Instagram. Enjoy!

Want to learn about our lunch box journey? Check it out here!